Multiple European flights and cruise ship diverted following false bomb threats

Multiple flights across Europe were subject to bomb threats on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, which authorities later determined were false. The incidents resulted in flight diversions, security screenings, and military escorts, though no injuries were reported.

Aviation Disruptions

Several airlines were impacted by the threats, including LOT, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Wizz Air, and Ryanair.

In Italy, two Ryanair flights arriving in Rome's Fiumicino airport were targeted. One flight from Lisbon received an email warning of a bomb on board, while a second flight from Dublin was escorted to the airport by two Italian Air Force fighter jets after receiving a similar threat. In both cases, bomb disposal experts found no explosives.

In Poland, a LOT flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw was diverted to Modlin airport, which was temporarily closed. LOT stated that "no se encontró nada en la aeronave" (nothing was found in the aircraft). Additionally, a SAS flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw's Chopin airport was subject to security procedures after a report of a potentially dangerous object; SAS stated the plane landed normally and the matter was referred to Polish police.

In Spain, a Ryanair flight from Manchester carrying 121 people, including crew, landed at Murcia airport for inspection. Spanish government delegate Francisco Lucas stated that authorities "descartaron el martes la presencia de explosivos" (ruled out the presence of explosives on Tuesday).

In Bulgaria, two aircraft—one from Bergamo, Italy, and one from Dublin, Ireland—were inspected by the Specialized Anti-Terrorist Unit after receiving threats. Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgi Peev noted that the information regarding one threat "se basó en un informe del piloto" (was based on a report from the pilot).

Previous Incidents and Maritime Threat

On Monday, November 2, a Wizz Air flight departing from Luton was diverted to Hungary after receiving a bomb threat mid-air. The Hungarian Ministry of Defense stated a Gripen fighter jet escorted the aircraft to Budapest's Liszt Ferenc International Airport, where no threat was found.

In addition to the aviation incidents, the Panamanian-flagged cruise ship Crown Iris was inspected by divers and bomb-detection dogs on the Greek island of Syros following a claim that an explosive device was attached to the ship's hull. Initial checks found no explosives.

Why it matters

While no group has claimed responsibility, Rhys Jones, a manager at Osprey Flight Solutions, told Reuters that "la falta de un estado, aerolínea o ruta objetivo claros indica que el objetivo es la interrupción general de las operaciones aéreas" (the lack of a clear target state, airline, or route indicates the objective is the general disruption of air operations).

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Sources

• mcall.com: Vuelos en Europa afectados por amenazas de bomba que resultaron ser falsas – The Morning Call
• france24.com: Siete aviones y un crucero afectados por amenazas falsas de bomba en Europa - France 24

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.